Alexis Rivera, Transgender Rights Advocate, Dies At 34

Alexis Rivera, a transgender rights
advocate, has died at the age of 34.

According to various media reports,
Rivera died on Wednesday, March 28 in San Francisco due to
complications related to HIV.

Rivera was the first program director
for Children's Hospital Los Angeles' groundbreaking Tranny Rockstar
program, where she helped hundreds of transgender youth. She also
served as Commissioner for the Los Angeles County Commission on
HIV/AIDS; founding board member of FTM Alliance of Los Angeles; chair
of the Transgender Service Provider Network; and founding member of
the League of Trans Unified Sisters (LOTUS), according to an online
bio.

She joined the Transgender Law Center
as its Policy Advocate in 2007.

“Words can barely express the grief
experienced by California's trans communities this week,” Masen
Davis, executive director of Transgender Law Center, said in a
statement. “A proud trans Latina and natural leader, Alexis Rivera
was a role model and inspiration for countless youth – and many
'elders' too. She understood that we are stronger together, and she
kept organizing until the very end. Alexis' death is a reminder that
the fight for equality – and against AIDS – is far from over.”

Memorials for Rivera will be held
Saturday in San Francisco at the SF LGBT Center and Sunday in Los
Angeles at the Fiesta Hall at Plummer Park.